Who Do You Jingle With?

We're nearing the home stretch on the fundraising for the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis! All things seem to be in order as we prepare for Siobhan's big day...practicing her speech, getting out costumes together for the costume contest, gearing up our legs for the run, lot's to be excited about!
We're doing our best to make Siobhan and our team the top fundraisers. So have you donated yet? Are you planning on joining our team? Click here if you would like too contribute. If you would, please make the donation directly to Siobhan-just click on her name!

On Today's List

Before, you read any further, Have you headed over to join our team for the Jingle Bell Run/Walk? After tomorrow, registration goes up to $30 so do it now!!!! There's also a kids 1K and the price is always $10. And, of course, you can donate any amount you like until the day of.

Now, since it's Monday and I haven't blogged in a years(!!!!!), I'm going to create my to do list so I have some ownership over how I spend my day. And just FYI, this post will probably be boring. So here's what I hope to accomplish:

*Do one more load of laundry and then fold and put away all the loads that I've done between yesterday and today. If I do anymore today than what I've already done I'll get overwhelmed and it won't get completed. After falling ridiculously behind on my laundry, I need to pace myself.
*Come up with something to feed my family dinner. Pancakes? Maybe-We're having leftovers from last night, done!
*Acquire birthday treats to take to Siobhan's class and then deliver them-1/w way done
*Attend Jingle Run planning meeting at the Arthritis Foundation this afternoon.
*Get dressed in clothes other than sweat pants-done!
*Figure out our clothing for family pictures this weekend. I would like my brain to stop keeping me up at night thinking about color/texture/print combinations and the disasters that are possible.
*Take books to library.
*Vacuum Mr. Will's bedroom so he'll stop eating sequins (it's a long story) -That one's done
*Blog something interesting this evening.

I need to bare in mind that I'm giving myself until the end of day to get this all done.

Whenever the Arthritis Foundation has a big event, they always choose a child with JIA to be an honoree-sort of the face of Arthritis and 'voice for hope' to show that life can be normal. Back in June, we were able to meet James Light who was the honoree for the Arthritis Walk. He was super sweet and very inspiring. You can read it here. Siobhan even sees the same Doctor!

Well, we were given the opportunity for Siobhan to be the honoree at this years Jingle Bell Run/Walk so we jumped on it and we just got word last week that it's official! How exciting is that!!!! We're so happy and excited to be able to share her/our story with everyone who is struggling with arthritis and to bring awareness to the fact that there is a huge need for more research, but ultimately, what we need, is a cure!

For this event, our family will be able to help in some of the planning of the event, work with local media, share our story with the community and Siobhan will be able to start the race. We also started a team just like we did for the walk back in June.

Now, I really don't like to solicit people for money or ask a lot from people, but this is obviously something that is really close to our family so I am going to put it out there. So here's where you come in....

1)We need team members to fun with us! There is a $25 reg fee which goes toward our fundraising goal of $1500.

2)If you don't live close, you can still donate to our team. A lot of very generous people donated to us for the last walk and I definitely don't expect that again. But the option is there. If you've never donated before, just know that any amount helps.

3)Come and cheer us on! There is going to be a lot of fun stuff going on at the Jingle Bell Run/Walk so come and get into the holiday spirit and cheer on 'Siobhan's Secret Weapons'. Through this whole arthritis journey, the moral support has meant just as much to us! Surrounding ourselves with people who want the best for Siobhan has been awesome!

If you're interested in helping us one way or the other, here are the event details:

When: Sat December 3

8.30-10am : Registration

9.15am : Holiday Costume Contest!

9.40am : Kids 1k Run with Elves

10am : Timed 5k Runners Begin

10.10am : Untimed Joggers/Walkers Begin

5k Results + Awards Ceremony to follow.

Where: Trolley Square-Southwest Plaza

How: You can run or walk, timed or un-timed

So if you want to join our team head on over here and find our team. This go around, we've called our team 'Siobhan's Secret Weapons'.

Forget Not

The talk by President Uchtdorf, wasn't it amazing!!! Watch the entire thing here. You will be not be disappointed!

Monkeys and Elephants and Dinosaurs, Oh My!

A few weeks back (well, like a month ago) we went to the zoo! We don't venture out for things like that very often because Carson and I are seriously out numbered by the amount of kids we have. But we went with Grandma and Grandpa so that helped a lot-a few extra hands.

We've been looking forward to going to the zoo for a long time because Carson's company installed a bunch of air compressors for a dinosaur exhibit. The air compressors made the dinos move and some of them even sprayed water. Since we have a little boy in our family who adores anything of the dinosaur persuasion, it was bound to be a big hit!






We also saw elephants, and I didn't know this, which are apparently Audrey's favorite animal. We spent a lot of time there listening to the one of the zoo people (docent?) talk all about the elephants they had there which were a grandma, a mommy and a baby girl. So fun!

This is a big elephant outside the habitat. It does a little bit of moving and water spraying which Carson's company also did.

We also saw the monkeys which is always fun! There was this one baby monkey (I can't remember what kind-black with big, white, long tails-sort of look like a skunk) who kept bouncing all around the habitat and he had fun jumping up to the window and making faces at the girls. So cute!!!

We had a great time at the zoo!

Take a Look

If you're not a regular reader of our arthritis blog A Stint in Juvy, head on over there and take a look at our great news about Siobhan and her arthritis!

Blog Lovin' For The Boys!

There has been a serious lack of blog love for the boys in this family. I don't have any big stories to tell per-se.....og wait, that is not true! Mr. Will broke his arm last week, which is so sad. He has a blue cast like Thomas the Tank Engine. Also, he loves Thomas so much! He's mostly potty trained with the exception of #2 and night time. But we're working on it! Sir Ethan is rolling around which is so fun to watch. Also, he got a hair cut and always, he's so handsome. We had to graduate from the bumbo because he tipped over in it a few times. He's the happiest boy in the world!

Mr. Will while we were in Portland wearing my grandfathers old cowboy boots.

Is it just me, or does he look so tired in this picture?

Ethan doing what he does best-being adorable! (pre-bumbo tipping)

Mr. Will watching Thomas The Tank Engine while reading Thomas The Tank Engine with Thomas and his Friends.

Mr. Will loves the dishwasher. Also, he changed a setting on my camera so that for a while, it was black and white and green. It took be a while to fix it.

He loves his saucer!

He always mugs for the camera every time I pick it up. So funny!

Doing what he does best-playing with his trains!

Right after his first hair cut.

Mr. Will was very insistent about wearing Carson's Jazz jersey.

First Day Of School

Siobhan had first day of kindergarten on Monday. She was so excited!!!! She goes to a charter school called American Preparatory Academy where she gets to go to all day kindergarten and wear a uniform. She thinks the uniform is super cool! We're not sure if she's more excited about taking her lunch to school, having three recesses or writing in cursive! But she's loving every minute of it all the same!

Here's Siobhan right before leaving.
Kindergarten-2011
And yes, we're that family who makes our kid bring a gift to the teacher on the first day. I just think that teachers are some of the most unappreciated people in the world, so we wanted to make Mrs. Neidig feel special. She (Mrs. Neidig) is from England and has the cutest accent. We're told that sometimes her students end up having slight accents at the end of the year which is fun!

With Carson just before leaving.
Siobhan's school is a little bit of a drive and she has to be there early. Fortunately, it's not too far from Carson's work. So he goes tot he gym in the morning (which is just down the street) comes home to pick her up, and takes her to school. It works out perfectly and they get some fun daddy/daughter time!

Me and Siobhan right before heading off with Daddy.



Audrey started pre-school on Tuesday and she loves it!!!!! We were planning on homeschooling her for pre-school but then decided at the last minute that it wasn't going to be right for her. Luckily, I found a great school just up the street and around the corner that had some spots open. She loves being in Miss. Lynette's class and she gets to have recess too!

Audrey just a few days before school started. I'm not sure why, but this pictures reminds me of a mean school teacher.

Audrey on her first day just before leaving. She's wearing her bee necklace. She also gave the teacher a gift-not to worry, the teacher gifts were nothing crazy, just some yummy smelling hand sanitizer.

Me and Audrey just before we left. Love this little girl so much!!!!

Back To School Feast

On Sunday we started the tradition of having a back to school feast (yes, I totally stole the idea from Nie Nie-I make no apologies). We let Siobhan pick the food because she's starting kindergarten this year and that's a really big deal. Next year when Audrey starts Kindergarten, we'll let her choose. We chose a theme for the school year of what our family is going to focus on and we decorated accordingly. Our theme is this year is.....

To go along with the theme, at least once a month, one of our family home evenings will focus on President Hinckley's 'Bs'. If we live by those, it will help us 'Be the Best [We] Can Bee'.

Oh yeah, on the menu was:
Carbonarra (Siobhan's personal favorite-the girl could eat her weight in it)
Rolls
Lemonaide
Potato Skins for an appetizer

I had fun decorating the table. The centerpiece was a bunch of sticks that have bumble bees on them and I wrote out all the Bs on tags and hung them off the branches. Then I put framed pictures of the girls growing up-it happens so fast!

I made both of the girls a crown in the black, yellow, white color scheme which they loved!

Mr. Will was sad that he didn't a crown, but he enjoyed wearing my Jazz hat.

Later, the girls modeled their first day outfits. No real fashion show this year. Siobhan's going to be wearing a uniform everyday, so there's not much to see. She didn't even end up wearing that jumper. She wore a navy one instead.

Right before bed, Carson gave each of the girl beautiful, inspiring blessings for the new school year. Then it was time for a visit from the 'Back To School Fairy' (another idea I stole). She brought each of the girls a necklace that has a bumble bee charm and a heart so they can remember to 'Be The Best You Can Bee'. Unfortunately, the Back to School Fairy has never made jewelry before and both necklaces have broken a few times. I'm working on a way to attach the jump rings so they don't fall off anymore.

Coming up....First Day of School Posts

Today

Today was particularly hard with Siobhan. I seem to be saying that a lot and then blogging about it. Not sure if that's the best thing or not. Anyway, I think when school starts things will be better. I think the hardest part was actually the last hour or so. And since I just put her to bed and am now cooling down from the shenanigans, I'm going to list some things that she did today that were great.

*She fed Ethan his dinner while I put Mr. Will down for sleep and she actually did a good job of it.

*She helped me get the plates ready for dinner. Anything have to do with helping prepare dinner and she is all over it! It also helps if allowance money is involved.

*She colored an awesome picture of a lion this morning. Seriously, it's really good! See!




*I needed someone to carry some important papers when we were at her school this afternoon and she willingly helped me out.

*She requested my favorite place for lunch...Taco Bell.

*She told me that she loves my homemade gravy!

*She loves Mary Poppins!

The girl knows how to push every button that I have, but I think I'll keep her around!

We Interrupt This Program

To bring you and awesome way to help those in need. Remember the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan? Who could forget right?!?!? Well, I have this Friend in Portland who served a mission for our church (back in 1989) over there in the same region where the quake and tsunami hit. Now she's headed over the land she loves to help with the ongoing clean up. Obviously a ticket to Japan isn't cheap especially when you have 7 kids. So she put together a fundraiser to help fund her trip and I think it's super cool....cookbooks!

Head on over to the Hesses Madhouse and purchase one of her cookbooks. The ordering deadline is July 20th-this Wednesday. I'm ordering s few because they would make some good gifts. Julie posts some her recipes on her blog every now and then, and I must say, they all look and sound amazing!

So if you're still looking for away to help with the tragedy in Japan, check out her blog and buy a cookbook. Also, if you order, you may be able to include a recipe of our own!!!

Iamges From The Fourth

Mr. Will, Kate, Audrey, Siobhan, Caroline, and Lindsay...all the cousins (who were present) waiting for the parade in Grandma's neighborhood.

Carson and Mr. Will

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge? Nope, just William and Kate

Audrey loved the parade! She and Siobhan received lots of compliments on their dresses from the parade participants.

Sir Ethan

It's been a long long long time since I've put anything on the blog about little Ethan. I know, I'm so lame! It's true what they say about the youngest....never any pictures or anything! Believe me, I know!

So here's some updates about the little man. Ethan has rolled over a few times but has yet to do it regularly. He is pretty much the perfect baby. I was worried that it wouldn't last, but he's just so mellow! He just goes with the flow everyday! He has the cutest little ticklish spots and that are so unusual...the jaw bone and chin are always good for great giggles, and I just found a spot on his lower back along his spine that gives him the squirms...so adorable! I can't handle how amazing he is and how much I love him! He puts up with his sisters incessant hugs and kisses and his brother loving on him. Mr. Will has only once lashed out on him in anger and it was more directed towards me than Ethan so it was all forgiven. Long story short, we all love this little boy! Now, enjoy some pictures!

They all love him!!!

He loves sitting up!

Look at those big, bright eyes!

Love that smile!

Always content!

At the beach last week-first time in the bumboo!